---
sidebar_position: 10
---

# Android usage notes

:::tip
The TL;DR version is: the Open and Import modes on Android aren't too different in practice, and you can usually use either one, often combined with [`keepLocalCopy`](./keeping-local-copy.mdx).
:::

### Screenshots

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words. Here are some example screenshots of the Open and Import modes on Android.

Notice that in the "Import Mode (unrestricted file types)" case, the list is taller than the screen.

import Image from '@theme/IdealImage'

|                         Open Mode (unrestricted file types)                         |                         Import Mode (unrestricted file types)                         |
| :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------: |
| <Image img={require('/img/modes/open-unrestricted.jpg')} style={{maxWidth: 400}} /> | <Image img={require('/img/modes/import-unrestricted.jpg')} style={{maxWidth: 400}} /> |

|                   Open Mode (restricted to picking pdf)                    |                   Import Mode (restricted to picking pdf)                    |
| :------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------: |
| <Image img={require('/img/modes/open-pdf.jpg')} style={{maxWidth: 400}} /> | <Image img={require('/img/modes/import-pdf.jpg')} style={{maxWidth: 400}} /> |

### Resources

Assorted links to relevant resources:

- [`Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT` (used in Import mode)](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent#ACTION_GET_CONTENT)
- [`Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT` (used in Open mode)](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent#ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT)
- [Open a specific type of file](https://developer.android.com/guide/components/intents-common#OpenFile)
- [What is the real difference between ACTION_GET_CONTENT and ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36182134/what-is-the-real-difference-between-action-get-content-and-action-open-document)
- [note in "Write a client app"](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/document-provider.html#client)
